425
FXUS63 KLBF 222315
AFDLBF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service North Platte NE
515 PM CST Sat Feb 22 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Above normal temperatures are expected through the upcoming
  week.

--A Pacific cold frontal passage will bring a period of strong,
  gusty winds Tuesday afternoon though Wednesday. Gusty winds
  can also be expected Monday as a surface trough crosses the
  area.

- Slight chance of a few showers Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday
  evening frontal passage.

- Most of the snow cover should be gone across the area by the
  middle of the week if not before.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 209 PM CST Sat Feb 22 2025

A warm front is in the process of tracking eastward across Nebraska
this afternoon. Temperatures have warmed into the middle and upper
40s west of the front across the Sandhills and western Nebraska west
of the front. Aloft, a northwest flow pattern will continue dominate
the area through Monday.

For tonight, with the lingering snow cover and light west to
northwest low-level flow. Lows will again be quite cold, especially
in the typical low lying areas like river valleys. Went with upper
teens in the Platte River Valley and near 20 in other low spots and
valleys.

Snowmelt will continue Sunday as temperatures continue to warm. A
bit more mixing due to westerly downslope Chinook should help warm
highs into the 50s at all locations. The exception could be the
southern Sandhills which may remain just shy of 50F where the
deepest snowpack remains.

Monday will really see temperatures warm. A weak shortwave will
cross the northern plains and drag a surface trough eastward across
the area. As the trough passes, low-level mixing will become
maximized with warming downslope flow easily reaching the surface.
It appears that all areas should reach the 60s with snow quickly
melting most areas. Gusty west to northwest winds will aid in
melting the lingering snow cover.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 209 PM CST Sat Feb 22 2025

A fairly potent shortwave cross the area within northwest flow aloft
Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Little in the way of
moisture at the low-levels for this system to work with, but mid and
upper level Pacific moisture will bring an increase in cloud cover
and the possibility of a few showers. At the surface, low
pressure will cross South Dakota during the day Tuesday. This
will drag a Pacific cold front eastward across the area Tuesday
afternoon into Tuesday night. Should see a nice warm-up ahead of
the front with highs in the 60s Tuesday afternoon. Gusty
northwest winds develop as the front passes. As mentioned this
will be a Pacific cold front, so the post-frontal airmass will
be Pacific in nature. Highs Wednesday will only cool back into
the 50s behind the front. Northwest flow aloft continues
Thursday night into Friday. High temperatures both days return
to the upper 50s to mid 60s.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 520 PM CST Sat Feb 22 2025

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through Sunday evening
across all of western and north central Nebraska. High clouds
continue to increase this evening, with cloud base near 20000ft
AGL. Winds remain light from the west overnight, increasing to
10 to 20kts Sunday afternoon.

&&

.LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Taylor
LONG TERM...Taylor
AVIATION...Brown